2012 Honda Fit

Fitting in a Big and Tall World

"This is probably the best car Honda builds." That seems to be the common phrase around our office when discussing the little silver 2012 Honda Fit we've been passing around for the last week and a half. The Fit obviously isn't the fastest or best-appointed Honda, but as far as accomplishing the job it was designed to do, it is hard to beat.

Introduced as a 2007 model, the Honda Fit set the standard for what buyers could expect in the subcompact car market. The first-generation Fit won a comparison right out of the gate against the 2007 Nissan Versa and Toyota Yaris. It won again in the summer of 2010, beating the then-brand-new Ford Fiesta. It drew praise for its great handling, near-perfect packaging, and excellent outward vision. All the things you would rank highly in a micro-sized people-mover.
A year and a half later, the small hatch market is still rapidly evolving. Cars from Korean manufacturers Hyundai and Kia have changed buyers' expectations of the level of standard equipment and interior refinement the entry-level segments should provide. Chevy has turned up the subcompact volume by offering the new Sonic with significantly more power in the form of a turbocharged 1.4-liter I-4, and Toyota has given a much-needed refresh to the Yaris. Suddenly, the head of the class might be looking at a seat in the fat part of the bell curve.

Looks are completely subjective in any class, but the subcompact market seems as varied as the supercar realm. While midsize sedans seem to exist in a styling comfort zone, designers can still go nuts on small offerings. Flying wedges, stubby bricks and Jelly Belly shapes all seem to work in a market aimed at younger buyers. The Fit takes on a shape similar to a minivan that spent too long in a clothes dryer. The high, long roof is a big plus for maximizing space, while sharp details and tight corners add a little aggressiveness to what might otherwise look like simple utilitarianism.

Our First Tests always involve the normal battery of Motor Trend testing -- including 0-60 mph and quarter-mile acceleration, braking, and figure-eight testing. We also did a test that while unofficial might be the most appropriate one for this class of vehicle by far. We took the car to Ikea to buy a desk. While strapping in advanced test gear beside an expert might be the most thorough method of sorting out vehicle dynamics, average subcompact drivers want to know if they are going to be able to fit their new flat-pack furniture in the back and still have space for a Daime Torte. The Fit was used for grocery shopping, a trip to the movies, and for good measure we shuttled around an editor's very pregnant wife. All we are missing is a few quotes from an Airedale.

Let's talk track tech first. Our 2012 Fit arrived with a five-speed manual transmission -- clearly the enthusiast's choice in a car like this. The fun-size 1.5-liter makes do with a single overhead camshaft, but still operates four valves in each of the four cylinders. While not very impressive on paper, the 117 hp and 106 lb-ft of torque make the Fit feel decently quick, thanks to the short, well-spaced gearing. The 8.2-second 0-60 mph time won't set the world ablaze, but it is certainly capable of keeping up with traffic. The downside of that short gearing is less comfort at anything near freeway speeds. The little four-banger just buzzes away and gives the entire car a very sharp high-frequency vibration, like an electrical current running through the unibody constantly tingling and never allowing the car to settle into cruise mode. It's fun during spirited driving, but gets old during longer stints behind the wheel.On our figure-eight track, that short gearing helped the Fit get from corner to corner in a respectable time. Lap times came in at 28.2 seconds with an average of 0.57 g, although in the cornering sections it did manage to pull 0.79 g of understeering glory. Again, there is nothing remarkable about these numbers, but the little Fit is big fun. The steering response is crisp and direct; when the steering wheel turns, the chassis follows in lockstep. Our tester weighed in at 2509 pounds but barely felt an ounce heavier than your average go-kart. Around town we might complain about the lack of isolation provided by the chassis, but when pushed it feels alive and active. This sensation recalls the "Old Honda" that common consensus would have you believe died at the turn of the millennium.

The brakes and shifter work well in conjunction with the steering. Pedal operation is smooth and firm, and while you never need to, you find yourself double-clutching and heel-toeing your downshifts even in traffic. The Standard Fit is good and an Si version would probably cause Honda fans' heads to explode (and perhaps allow them to forget about the current Civic Si). The car could use a bit more roll control in the rear, as it happily spins its inside front wheel during hard cornering, but we imagine that might also endow the car with the neutral handling that auto-company defense lawyers have made virtually unthinkable on anything nearing a mass production volume.We know 99 out of 100 people buying a Fit will never approach the limits of the car's handling, at least intentionally, so our shopping excursion is probably more relevant. If we could come up with an instrumented shopping dynamics test, the Fit would peg the haul-o-meter. The Swedes are masters of fitting an entire living room worth of furniture into a few flat boxes, but I still thought hauling a desk and various odds and ends might be a challenge. The Fit's trick rear seats fold flat, making for a cargo hold the Corellian Engineering Corporation would envy. The 42-inch-long box disappeared into the back with room to spare. If only Honda built apartment complexes.The rest of the weekend breezed by. I did notice a few downsides to what I thought would be MT's new favorite econo-cruiser. As I scurried around to different cities for different errands, I finally noticed I was avoiding the freeway. During rush hour, it is rare to drive freeway speeds on Southern California freeways. So for weekday commuting duties, the Fit is fine. However, on the weekends, when freeway traffic moves well above 65 mph, its short gearing and overall liveliness got kind of old. My wife called the Fit the Little Engine that Could. She mentioned at first that it seemed like I was always driving the car hard and really working through the gears, but she then noticed that with all the work going on at the helm and all the zinging noises from the little engine, we were still merely keeping up with traffic. So as much fun as the Fit is, for the average driver it might be a letdown, because the market has evolved since the Fit was designed. If you are looking for old-school Honda, you won't be disappointed. If you are looking for the most refined car in this class, you may need to wait for the next refresh.

I have a 2013 Mustang GT Premium and bought a 2013 Fit Sport 5MT as my road trip/"beater" car. In the last 10 months I have put 18,000 miles on the Fit and only 3,000 miles on the Mustang. I just love driving this car so much. It reminds me of the old Hondas, this article was SPOT ON about that. It has plenty of power with only one person, once you have passengers and cargo it is a bit sluggish. I get highway mpg of 35-39 and city 31-34, and I do not drive slow. I had a '93 Civic EX that I loved to death and this car with its lively little motor and crisp handling reminds me of it. The creature comforts are nice (USB port, Aux input, steering wheel audio controls, keyless entry, alarm) and the cargo space is amazing.

Four adults truly can ride comfortably in this car and I put my 2013 Mustang GT Premium on auto trader a month ago because I always find myself driving the fit. It weaves through traffic much better, gets better mpg, is easier to park, and just overall more FUN. With the nicer wheels and spoiler on the sport, 15% window tint all around (Florida sun), and my silly i-VTEC SOHC decals on the rear doors my little silver Fit actually looks quite sporty.

The two major criticisms of this article are about how this car drives on the freeway. It feels twitchy at first because of the quick steering response/tight handling and the RPMs seem high. You quickly get used to these and I have enjoyed TWO cross country road trips in this car. Don't write it off over initial impressions.

I must also add that with the factory tires this car drives better in the snow than any car I have ever owned.

I test drove a 2012 Fit Sport last weekend. Great design, fun to drive, super useful and spacious. Also very buzzy - around 3200 rpms at 65mph? Really?, rated MPG is not great compared to the competition, and down on power compared to the competition. It's also expensive for what you get, but my test car was built in Japan so the exchange rate wasn't helping any.

I really want about 20 more horsepower (for acceleration) and an overdriven 6th speed (for better mileage and to quiet things down on the highway) for this car, and I'm willing to pay another thousand or two to get them. How about it, Honda? Can you make a Fit with a 6 speed and a better power to weight ratio than my beloved, dearly departed 1993 Civic Si for about 20 grand?

It's all about knowing what you're buying before you buy. I tested my 2012 on the freeway and heard the engine's volume right away. But here's one of the coolest side effects of that revvy little engine. On a recent trip between Carmel and Santa Cruz, after climbing the initial hill out of Carmel Valley, I drove the rest of the 1-hour trip without ever having to downshift out of fifth (mine's a five speed manual). When running at 3500+ RPM, there's plenty of torque to climb moderate hills without ever fiddling with shifting or the cruise control (which came on the base model). When I drove to SoCal for Christmas, I averaged 75-80 MPH and still averaged 36 MPG. The interior is amazing, iPod compatible stereo with CD along with speed sensitive volume control. Cruise control. Tons of storage and/or passenger space. I am thrilled with my Fit! Love Love Love it!!! Fun to drive and practical as ever.

BuddyClub, if "as big as a Civic" means 16-inches shorter, over 2-inches narrower, almost 7-inches shorter in wheelbase and 370-lb lighter, then yeah they are exactly the same size. You don't need to remind me that it's a 1.5-liter either, the buzzing engine does a fine job of that. Instead of driving something with a 6 or 8-cylinder, I drove newer cars in this class, just like Fit shoppers would do. Refinement has come a long way in this class and the Fit has fallen behind. Inexpensive cars don't have to be loud and buzzy anymore.

I need to remind the writer of this article that this car is only equipped with a 1.5 liter 4 banger. So, all that buzziness and "hard work" is standard issues. This ain't no 6 or 8 cylinder, so why is the writer so concerned with all that? If he can't live with all that harshness and noise, then go get something else that's larger and more luxurious. This is just a small econo hatch, for god's sake.

When are we going to see a Fit "Si"? That would've easily be a winner in my books. Give it 4 wheel disc brakes, a more potent engine, lowered springs and priced it around 19K and Honda would have sold it like hot cakes.

The highway buzziness is a reminder of what was BAD about Hondas from years past, IMO. Even a subcompact grocery-getter doesn't have to be so out of its element (ha!) on the freeway. Our Kia Soul and several other small cars are a better fit (double-ha!) for an all-around small car.

What a cute little car. My daughter and her friends would love to have this. One local review called it a "stock Asian rocket". Kids would definitely like it here in our high schools...if their parents buy it for them.

This car is awesome. It really surprised me during my test drive. The stick is as good as it gets, typical Honda. The engine spins so freely, only other cars engine I can compare it to is the 99-00 Civic Si. It has no real grunt, but you do don't get the feeling like you're hurting the car by revving it so high. One of my favorite Hondas.

Hey, Honda, how about a 160-175 horsepower Fit Si?? Tighten up the already nimble suspension, throw a slightly more aggressive front bumper / air dam and rear spoiler on it and yee-haw, an at least spicy if not quite hot hatch !!

himoses you may want to look at the fuelly.com link I posted...and then look at the Fit's 8.2 second 0-60 time. The Auto comes in between 9 and 9.5 I think. The Accent, with it's 30/40 rating...is averaging 32.0 mpg on fuelly.com. The Fit is averaging over 34 mpg. And if you haven't sat in a 2012 Fit the you should. The interior got upgraded from 2011 and it's nicer. And it isn't like the Fiesta or Accent is lighting quick.

Incorrect Motortrend.The best car Honda builds is the Accord 6MT.Mentioning "enthusiasts choice" in a review of this car, just shows how out of touch you are with this thing the Goob likes to call "reality".The Goob hath thusly ruled.

The Fit is the only true subcompact that can fit 4 decent-sized adults comfortably (as in with enough space as the Fit's seats are uncomfortable). The Fit gets all of these performance accolades from the press, but most people buy them with automatics. With the automatic, the Fit is an unrefined car with segment-related middling performance and poor fuel economy. The handling is also not class-leading. That honor belongs to the Mazda 2, followed by the Ford Fiesta.Any negatives aside, the Fit is a relatively reliable car that a lot of people can fit in for such a small car. However, the standard in the class now is 40 MPGs and sub-10 second 0-60. The automatic Fit needs a new powertrain and a bump in interior quality without increasing price.

Grump you are wrong. All U.S. bound Fit's are still produced in Japan. The rumor is that the next generation Fit will be produced in Mexico.The Fit is great. I love it. I AVERAGE 32-33 mpg in my '09 Fit Sport Auto. And I'm not the only one:http://www.fuelly.com/car/honda/fitIt's a great little car. The gearing is different on the 5AT so highway cruising is easier. Plus the 5AT has paddle shifters which still gives you the ability to do what you want.And Honda's 6MT's, really all their MTs, are geared specifically for sporty driving and the 6th gear, in the Si for example, isn't that much lower than the 5th gear in the Fit 5MT. I would like to see Honda re-think that process, make 6MT's the standard MT - just offer them with two different sets of gear ratios: one for sport and one that offers a taller 6th gear for improved fuel efficiency.

I drove one of these shit boxes for an extended period. I felt the body roll was terrible and the buzzing engine very uncomfortable. This is definitely not the best car in this class. I think both the Fiesta and the Sonic were much better cars. I think the only reason you guys love this car is because it reminds you of the Hondas you used to drive 15 years ago. Sort of like when a Baby Boomer sits in a Camaro... Pitiful! Honda will be the next Mitsubishi!

Before I even read the article, I was thinking, "Hmmm, the Fit, kinda sad how this is the most competitive car Honda makes these days". Then to see the same thought in the first sentence only made the point more clear.After reading the article and looking at the photos, I hold that opinion even more strongly. The Fit seems to know exactly what it is trying to do, and it does it almost to perfection. The interior looks clean (would love to see the Civic and Accord with an instrument panel and center console more like the Fit's, rather than the convuluted mess-o-buttons that they currently have), the exterior is sporty without being over-styled. The car just seems honest.If they could somehow capture this mojo for use in the Civic and Accord, Honda would begin to regain my respect.It does sounds like the only thing the Fit is missing is a 6-speed tranny for improved highway cruising.Agree with Topheezy on the SW reference.-T

I owned a 2008 Honda Fit Sport but used it as a down payment for a 2010 Prius back in October of 2010.I miss my Fit SOOOOOOO much. Don't get me wrong, the Prius is great with all it's advanced technology and engineering. The 52 MPG. doesn't hurt either.BUT, the Fit Sport was one car that was such a joy to drive. Just so much fun that brought a smile to my face everytime I drove it, even on the worst of days.So small on the outside, HUGE on the inside. More cargo space than the Ford Explorer, when the rear seats folded down.And what a great looking instrument cluster and center console. Everything in it's place. You could close your eyes and your hand will fall right on whatever you were looking for, HVAC conrols, controls on the steering wheel, etc.I miss my Fit Sport so much, But I also love my Prius.

@edvf1000r I would agree with a 6 spd and 20 more horsepower!! This is the ONLY Honda made since the 2000 Si that reminds me of the old Hondas. Please realize that the rated MPG is a complete joke. I think because of the cargo specs of the car if it was rated at 33/36 nobody would buy the American hatches so the EPA grossly underrated the MPG. I drive it like a little gokart 90% of the time and average 32mpg (this is CITY driving). When I get out on the highway and actually go the speed limit I have gotten 39mpg. My normal highway MPGs are about 36, going 70-80, and when I am in a real hurry I can drop it down to 33mpg or so going 80+.

Perhaps Honda didn't go with the 6MT because the car still manages excellent fuel economy as-is and they wanted to keep the cost lower?